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Displaced Puerto Ricans Seek Refuge in Florida

IN PICTURES: teleSUR explores the lives of displaced Puerto Ricans living in Florida in the wake of Hurricane Maria.
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Across the country, state and local officials are scrambling to manage an influx of Puerto Ricans, a migration that is impacting education budgets, housing, demographics and voter rolls in communities where these newcomers are landing.
Across the country, state and local officials are scrambling to manage an influx of Puerto Ricans, a migration that is impacting education budgets, housing, demographics and voter rolls in communities where these newcomers are landing. Photo:Reuters
Puerto Rican Waleska Rivera, 42, undergoes her dialysis treatment in a hotel room, where she lives with her family.
Puerto Rican Waleska Rivera, 42, undergoes her dialysis treatment in a hotel room, where she lives with her family. Photo:Reuters
Sergio Diaz, 54, lost his house in Puerto Rico when Hurricane Maria hit the island. He now lives in a hotel room which provides a temporary housing for displaced Puerto Ricans.
Sergio Diaz, 54, lost his house in Puerto Rico when Hurricane Maria hit the island. He now lives in a hotel room which provides a temporary housing for displaced Puerto Ricans. Photo:Reuters
Florida, already home to more than 1 million Puerto Ricans, is on the front lines. About 300,000 island residents have arrived in the state since early October, according to Florida's Division of Emergency Management.
Florida, already home to more than 1 million Puerto Ricans, is on the front lines. About 300,000 island residents have arrived in the state since early October, according to Florida's Division of Emergency Management. Photo:Reuters
The influx is nearly 2.5 times the size of the Mariel boat lift that brought 125,000 Cubans ashore in 1980.
The influx is nearly 2.5 times the size of the Mariel boat lift that brought 125,000 Cubans ashore in 1980. Photo:Reuters
Puerto Rican Felix Rodriguez, 11, hugs his mother Nydia Irizarry, 45, before a school bus picks him up outside a hotel where he lives with his family.
Puerto Rican Felix Rodriguez, 11, hugs his mother Nydia Irizarry, 45, before a school bus picks him up outside a hotel where he lives with his family. Photo:Reuters
Keyshla Betancourt Irizarry, 22, came to Florida in October on a humanitarian flight with her mother and brother. Suffering with the blood cancer Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Betancourt was deteriorating fast on an island whose healthcare system is in tatters.
Keyshla Betancourt Irizarry, 22, came to Florida in October on a humanitarian flight with her mother and brother. Suffering with the blood cancer Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Betancourt was deteriorating fast on an island whose healthcare system is in tatters. Photo:Reuters
Central Florida was one of the country’s fastest-growing regions even before the disasters as Puerto Ricans fleeing a sputtering economy flocked here for jobs in the booming tourist trade. An estimated 360,000 have settled in the area, the largest concentration in Florida.
Central Florida was one of the country’s fastest-growing regions even before the disasters as Puerto Ricans fleeing a sputtering economy flocked here for jobs in the booming tourist trade. An estimated 360,000 have settled in the area, the largest concentration in Florida. Photo:Reuters
The Osceola County school district has enrolled thousands of new students in recent years, including nearly 2,700 in 2015-2016 alone. To accommodate them, the district hired more bilingual teachers, converted offices into classrooms, added portable units and built a new middle school.
The Osceola County school district has enrolled thousands of new students in recent years, including nearly 2,700 in 2015-2016 alone. To accommodate them, the district hired more bilingual teachers, converted offices into classrooms, added portable units and built a new middle school. Photo:Reuters
Now living in Orlando, she is on Florida’s Medicaid plan, which pays for her radiation treatments. The family has no plans to return to the territory.
Now living in Orlando, she is on Florida’s Medicaid plan, which pays for her radiation treatments. The family has no plans to return to the territory. Photo:Reuters
Recent arrivals include Felix Martell and his five-year-old daughter Eliany, who settled in Ocala, Florida, about 80 miles (129 kilometers) northwest of Orlando. Martell is the sole caretaker for the child after his wife died two years ago. He worried Eliany's education would suffer in Puerto Rico due to lengthy school closures following Maria.
Recent arrivals include Felix Martell and his five-year-old daughter Eliany, who settled in Ocala, Florida, about 80 miles (129 kilometers) northwest of Orlando. Martell is the sole caretaker for the child after his wife died two years ago. He worried Eliany's education would suffer in Puerto Rico due to lengthy school closures following Maria. Photo:Reuters
Miguel Alvarez and his wife Liz Vazquez arrived to Florida with their two sons after Hurricane Maria. They now live in a hotel room which provides a temporary housing for displaced Puerto Ricans.
Miguel Alvarez and his wife Liz Vazquez arrived to Florida with their two sons after Hurricane Maria. They now live in a hotel room which provides a temporary housing for displaced Puerto Ricans. Photo:Reuters
Published 14 January 2018
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